Lock for adjustable end wrench



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Patented Jan. 11, 1949 UNITED STATE 5- PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim. 1

.wrenches of the conventional crescent wrench Third, to provide a wrench of this class in which the adjustment nut is easily unlocked for adjustment and which is held in secure locked .position until changed as desired;

Fourth, to provide a wrench of this class in which the adjustment nut is provided with a series of stops for each complete revolution thereof so that a very fine adjustment of the wrench jaws may be maintained by the locking device in connection with the adjustment nut;

Fifth, to provide a wrench of this class in which the adjustment nut and axle therefor are substantially conventional in size and proportion so that they may be readily installed in connection with wrenches now in use; and

Sixth, to provide a wrench of this class which is very simple and economical of construction, efiicient in its action and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon which form a K part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my wrench; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of my wrench showing portions broken away and in section to facilitate the illustration and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and shown on the same scale as that in Fig. 2.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings.

The frame and handle member i, the movable jaw 2, the adjustment nut 3, the axle member l, the latch member 5 and the spring 6 constitute the principal parts and. portions of my wrench.

The frame and handlemember i is a conventional part having a handleportion la and ajaw portion lb. The movable jaw 2 issubstantially conventional in form and is provided with a worm gear rack portion 2a which meshes with the helical teeth 3a of the adjustmentnut 3 which "is'revoluble' on the axle member 4; as shown best in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The adjustment nut 3 is substantially conventional in form exceptthat it is provided with a plurality of longitudinal slots 3b which communicate with the bore 3cofsaid adjustment nut 3. The axle 4 is-isubstantiallyconventional in diameter and is provided with a screwthreaded portion 4a on its one end which engages the conventional screw thread within the frame and handle member I, as shown best in Fig. 2 of the drawing. This axle member is provided with an enlarged end portion ib, as shown best in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The axle member 4 is provided with a bore 40 therein adapted to receive the latch member 5 and the spring ii. The spring 6 is positioned in the inner end of the bore 40 of the axle member A and engages the end 5a of the latch member 5 tending to force the same outwardly of the axle member 4. The latch member 5 is made of resilient material and is provided with a resilient projecting portion 5b which extends through the angular opening id of the axle member 4. The extended end of the projecting portion 5b engages within one of the slotted portions 3b of the adjustment nut 3, as shown best in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The axle member 4, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings is a hollow cylindrical member having an opening in the side wall thereof through which extends the projection 5b of the reciprocally mounted latch member 5.

The operation of my wrench is substantially as follows: When it is desired to adjust the law 2 relatively to the jaw portion lb, the latch member 5 is forced inwardly by means of the thumb piece 50 which compresses the spring 6 and pulls the projecting portion 512 inwardly through the angular opening 4d in the axle member thereby retracting the end of the projectin portion 5b from the slot 3b in the adjustment nut 3. The adjustment nut 3 is then revolved until the movable jaw member 2 is in proper spaced relation from the jaw portion lb, as desired; then the thumb piece 50 of the latch member 5 is released permitting the sprin 6 to force the latch member outwardly, whereby the projecting portion 5b engages the bore 30 of the adjustment nut 3 or one of the slots 3b.

It will be noted that in the event the projecting portion 55 engages the bore 30 of the adjustment nut 3, that the slight revolution of the adjustment nut 3 will align one of the slots 3b with the projecting portion 5b whereupon the projecting portion 5b automatically engages the slotted portion 31) looking the adjustment 3 securely against revolution.

It will be noted that the threads 4a of the axle member 4 are tightly engaged with the frame and handle member i so that the axle member 4 is not easily turned. It is obvious that the adjust ment nut 3, the axle member 4, spring 6 and latch member 5 could be installed in connection with Wrenches of the crescent Wrench type which are now in use. The frame and handle member I and the movable jaw member 2 need not be altered in case it is desired to install the beforementioned parts.

In order to convert a conventional crescent wrench into a wrench according to my invention, the conventional adjustment nut and conventional axle for the adjustment nut may be removed which does not alter the main structure of the wrench.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to the particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a wrench of the class described, the combination of a frame and handle member provided with a fixed jaw, a movable jaw reciprocably mounted thereon and provided with racked teeth, a revoluble adjustment worm nut having a bore therethrough and engageable with said movable jaw rack teeth, an axle member extending through said bore, a latch member reciprocally mounted in said axle member and having a spring portion with its end engageable with said adjustment nut, and a spring in engagement with said latch member tending to force said spring portion into engagement with said adjustment nut, said latch member having an extending thumb piece for use in releasing said latch member from engagement with said adjustment nut.

JAMES H. OGDEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 568,284 Seymour Sept. 22, 1896 1,218,316 Rice Mar, 6, 1917 1,779,025 Wilkins Oct. 21, 1930 1,846,380 Anderson Feb. 23, 1932 2,385,660 Truby Sept. 25, 1945 

